Custom Cut sticks his neck out for the line at the Curragh© Photo Healy Racing
Champion apprentice Ronan Whelan secured his first Group race win when making all on 25/1 outsider Custom Cut in the Gladness Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh.
Despite the four-year-old tiring deep in the final furlong, Whelan kept his mount busy and was able to repel the closing Nephrite (7/2) and La Collina (7/1), who both had to settle for place money in second and third respectively.
George Kent trains the winner and his son and assistant trainer George Kent Junior commented: “I said coming here that it was a fact-finding mission so that tells us where we are at.
“We were delighted with his comeback run and not too worried by his run the last day. He showed in his work he could be competitive at this level and it’s great he got the job done.
“It’s great to have this type of horse for a small yard. We need a horse like him. There’s a lovely programme for this type of horse.
“He had to make the step up today and thank God he did. He’s never let us down. He didn’t mind that ground today. It’s onwards and upwards.
“He’s in a Listed race [at Leopardstown] next week. We’ll have to sit down and look at it. Ronan knows him well and won on him over course and distance. He kept at it and he’s tough.”
Ronan Whelan said: “He’s been a very good horse to me. He’s won over course and distance before and he’s tough. He ground it out today.
“Every time I asked him he kept picking up. He scoped badly after the Lincoln but he was match fit today.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
